Looking for some fresh, fun, and educational activities to engage your students in the school garden? You’ve come to the right place! Incorporating garden games into your curriculum makes learning fun and helps kids connect with nature, develop teamwork skills, and gain hands-on experience in gardening. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, these review games for elementary students will bring excitement and learning to your school garden. Let’s dive into some delightful garden games that will have your students learning, laughing, and growing together!

Seed Relay Race

The Seed Relay Race is a fun and energetic game that encourages teamwork and helps children learn about different types of seeds. This game can be played in an open space within the school garden.

Time: 20-30 minutes

Materials: Small seed packets (sunflower, pumpkin, bean, and flower seeds), small cups, spoons, garden beds or containers for planting

Age Group: 6-10 years

Children are divided into teams. Each team has a starting line and a garden bed or container at the other end. At the start line, there are cups filled with different types of seeds and spoons for each team. Children take turns carrying seeds with a spoon to their team’s garden bed, trying not to spill them. Once they reach the garden bed, they plant the seeds before running back to pass the spoon to the next team member. The first team to successfully plant all their seeds wins. Through this game, children learn about different seed types and planting methods, as well as develop coordination and teamwork skills.

Garden Scavenger Hunt

The Garden Scavenger Hunt is an adventurous game that engages children’s curiosity and observation skills while exploring the garden.

Time: 30-45 minutes

Materials: List of garden items (flowers, insects, leaves, vegetables, tools), paper, pencils, small bags or baskets

Age Group: 7-12 years

Teachers create a list of items commonly found in the garden, such as a red flower, a round leaf, a butterfly, or a ripe tomato. Children are given the list and a small bag or basket. They work in pairs or small groups to find and collect or document each item on the list. The team that finds the most items within the allotted time wins. This game helps children enhance their observation skills, learn about different garden elements, and practice working collaboratively.

Planting Race

The Planting Race is an exciting game that combines speed and precision, teaching children how to plant seeds properly.

Time: 20-30 minutes

Materials: Seeds, small shovels, watering cans, garden beds or large pots, soil

Age Group: 5-8 years

Children are divided into teams, with each team having a garden bed or large pot filled with soil. At the start signal, the first child in each team digs a small hole, plants a seed, covers it with soil, and waters it. Then, they tag the next team member to do the same. The game continues until all team members have planted a seed. The team that plants all their seeds first wins. This game teaches children the basic steps of planting and the importance of teamwork and cooperation.

Worm Hunt

The Worm Hunt is a fascinating game that helps children learn about soil health and the role of earthworms in the garden ecosystem.

Time: 15-20 minutes

Materials: Small shovels or trowels, clear containers with lids

Age Group: 6-10 years

Children are given small shovels or trowels and clear containers with lids. They explore the garden beds, digging gently to find earthworms. Once a worm is found, it is carefully placed in the container for observation. After a designated time, children gather to share their findings and learn about the importance of earthworms in aerating the soil and breaking down organic matter. The game concludes with returning the earthworms safely to their habitat. This game promotes an understanding of soil health and the vital role of earthworms in the garden ecosystem.

Vegetable Harvest Relay

The Vegetable Harvest Relay is a fun and competitive game that teaches children about different vegetables and how to harvest them.

Time: 20-30 minutes

Materials: Baskets, a variety of ripe vegetables in the garden

Age Group: 7-12 years

Children are divided into teams. Each team has a basket and a designated garden bed with ripe vegetables. At the start signal, the first child from each team runs to their garden bed, harvests a vegetable, and runs back to place it in the basket before tagging the next teammate. The game continues until all vegetables are harvested. The team that harvests all their vegetables first wins. This game teaches children about different vegetables, the correct way to harvest them, and the importance of teamwork and speed.

Flower Identification Challenge

The Flower Identification Challenge is an educational game that enhances children’s knowledge of various flowers and their characteristics.

Time: 30-40 minutes

Materials: Pictures or samples of different flowers, garden beds with flowers, identification sheets, pencils

Age Group: 8-12 years

Teachers prepare identification sheets with pictures or descriptions of various flowers found in the garden. Children are given these sheets and work in pairs or small groups to find and identify the flowers in the garden beds. They write the names of the flowers next to their pictures on the sheet. The team that correctly identifies the most flowers within the time limit wins. This game helps children learn to recognize different flowers, understand their characteristics, and enhance their observational and research skills.